TheWriter
10-25-2005, 06:06 AM
Mayor won't be pushover in talks with Saints
Web Posted: 10/25/2005 12:00 AM CDT
San Antonio Express-News
George H. Spencer Sr., the dean of San Antonio defense lawyers, can't imagine the New Orleans Saints outmaneuvering Mayor Phil Hardberger at the negotiating table.
"The city couldn't get anyone better at negotiating than he is, I can tell you that," Spencer said.
Spencer should know. Hardberger, once an ace trial lawyer, usually bested Spencer during their courtroom showdowns.
"I've paid him a lot of money over the years," Spencer said. 'I tried two cases against him early in his career and won both. But I had more experience then.
"After that, he got so good, I had to pay him off all the time."
Spencer described Hardberger, former chief justice of the state's 4th Court of Appeals, as a well-prepared, forceful negotiator.
"He doesn't fool around," Spencer said of Hardberger, who wants the Saints to make a permanent move to San Antonio, a desire Hardberger says is shared by team owner Tom Benson. "He's a superb lawyer with a good personality and a knack for impressing the other side with his arguments."
Although serious negotiations between the Saints and the city aren't expected to happen until after the season, the prospects of Hardberger negotiating with Benson attorney and San Antonio resident Stanley Rosenberg has the city's legal community abuzz with anticipation.
"Both are smart men and superb lawyers," Spencer said.
Attorney Jimmy Parks, a legal analyst for KTSA Radio's Legally Brunette, echoed Spencer's comments.
"(Hardberger's) skills as a negotiator are probably his strongest quality as an attorney," Parks said. "Whether you like him or not, you couldn't ask for anybody better to represent the city in talks with the Saints.
"That's all he's done his professional life. He's worked things out, settled things. He's very personable and knows how to look for win-win agreements. He's not a brow beater and doesn't try to force people's hands.
"If we can't get it done with Phil Hardberger, we can't get it done."
Saints aren't alone: Benson's team isn't the only Louisiana company doing business in a neighboring state.
Entergy, one of New Orleans' biggest private employers and No.221 on the Fortune 500, has temporarily relocated to the former WorldCom headquarters near Jackson, Miss.
According to a published report, Mississippi "would be happy if Entergy made its move permanent." USA Today said recruiters for the state of Mississippi would not say whether they have offered tax and other incentives to land the company, which sells electricity to 2.7 million customers in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas and employs 1,400.
"We just need to make them feel at home, as best we can," the vice president for economic development at the MetroJackson Chamber of Commerce told the newspaper.
Hardberger, former San Antonio Mayor Henry Cisneros and other city leaders made similar comments in the days after the Saints moved operations to San Antonio.
Entergy says publicly it wants to return to New Orleans. But it offers no timetable because of the lack of basic services in the Big Easy.
Insiders say the Saints argue NFL teams can only play in markets where they can produce revenue to share with their fellow owners.
http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/stories/MYSA102505.4D.orsborn.153ab0a.html
Web Posted: 10/25/2005 12:00 AM CDT
San Antonio Express-News
George H. Spencer Sr., the dean of San Antonio defense lawyers, can't imagine the New Orleans Saints outmaneuvering Mayor Phil Hardberger at the negotiating table.
"The city couldn't get anyone better at negotiating than he is, I can tell you that," Spencer said.
Spencer should know. Hardberger, once an ace trial lawyer, usually bested Spencer during their courtroom showdowns.
"I've paid him a lot of money over the years," Spencer said. 'I tried two cases against him early in his career and won both. But I had more experience then.
"After that, he got so good, I had to pay him off all the time."
Spencer described Hardberger, former chief justice of the state's 4th Court of Appeals, as a well-prepared, forceful negotiator.
"He doesn't fool around," Spencer said of Hardberger, who wants the Saints to make a permanent move to San Antonio, a desire Hardberger says is shared by team owner Tom Benson. "He's a superb lawyer with a good personality and a knack for impressing the other side with his arguments."
Although serious negotiations between the Saints and the city aren't expected to happen until after the season, the prospects of Hardberger negotiating with Benson attorney and San Antonio resident Stanley Rosenberg has the city's legal community abuzz with anticipation.
"Both are smart men and superb lawyers," Spencer said.
Attorney Jimmy Parks, a legal analyst for KTSA Radio's Legally Brunette, echoed Spencer's comments.
"(Hardberger's) skills as a negotiator are probably his strongest quality as an attorney," Parks said. "Whether you like him or not, you couldn't ask for anybody better to represent the city in talks with the Saints.
"That's all he's done his professional life. He's worked things out, settled things. He's very personable and knows how to look for win-win agreements. He's not a brow beater and doesn't try to force people's hands.
"If we can't get it done with Phil Hardberger, we can't get it done."
Saints aren't alone: Benson's team isn't the only Louisiana company doing business in a neighboring state.
Entergy, one of New Orleans' biggest private employers and No.221 on the Fortune 500, has temporarily relocated to the former WorldCom headquarters near Jackson, Miss.
According to a published report, Mississippi "would be happy if Entergy made its move permanent." USA Today said recruiters for the state of Mississippi would not say whether they have offered tax and other incentives to land the company, which sells electricity to 2.7 million customers in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas and employs 1,400.
"We just need to make them feel at home, as best we can," the vice president for economic development at the MetroJackson Chamber of Commerce told the newspaper.
Hardberger, former San Antonio Mayor Henry Cisneros and other city leaders made similar comments in the days after the Saints moved operations to San Antonio.
Entergy says publicly it wants to return to New Orleans. But it offers no timetable because of the lack of basic services in the Big Easy.
Insiders say the Saints argue NFL teams can only play in markets where they can produce revenue to share with their fellow owners.
http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/stories/MYSA102505.4D.orsborn.153ab0a.html